Phenolic oximes

ABSTRACT

Saturated aliphatic and ethylenically unsaturated substituted 2hydroxy benzophenoximes containing a total of from 3-25 carbon atoms in the aliphatic groups. Also compositions comprised of combinations of these benzophenoximes with certain Alpha hydroxy aliphatic oximes. Compounds and compositions are useful for the extraction of metal values.

United States Patent Swanson [4 1 Dec. 9, 1975 [54] PHENOUC OXIMES OTHER PUBLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Ronald R. Swanson, New Hope.

Minn. Blatt. J. Org. Chem, Vol. 20, pp. 591-602 ([955). [73] Assignee: General Mills Chemicals, Inc.,

Minneapolis, M nn. Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Schwartz [22] Filed. NW 21 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gene O. Enockson; Patrick J. Span [2]] Appl, N0.: 417,915

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 709,80l, March l, 1968. abandoned. which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 498.|2l. Oct. l9, I965. abandoned.

US. Cl 260/566 A; 75/] 17; 260/429 C;

Int. Cl. C07C 131/00 Field of Search 260/566 A References Cited FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 8/l958 United Kingdom 260/566 A [57] ABSTRACT Saturated aliphatic and ethylenically unsaturated sub stituted Z-hydroxy benzophenoximes containing a total of from 3-25 carbon atoms in the aliphatic groups. Also compositions comprised of combinations of these benzophenoximes with certain a-hydroxy aliphatic oximes. Compounds and compositions are useful for the extraction of metal values.

14 Claims, No Drawings PHENOLIC OXIMES This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 709,801 filed on Mar. 1, 1968, now abandoned, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 498,121, filed Oct. [9. 1965, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to substituted benzophenoxime compounds which are useful for the extraction of metal values, such as copper, vanadium, molybdenum, etc., from aqueous leach liquors. The compounds of the present invention have the following formula:

in which R and R may be individually alike or different and are saturated or ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic groups and m and n are 0, l, 2, 3 or 4 with the proviso that m and n are not both 0. The total number of carbon atoms in R and R,, is from 3-25. R and R contain 1 to 25 carbon atoms when saturated aliphatic and 3 to 25 carbon atoms when they are ethylenically unsaturated groups. Preferably, the position ortho to the phenolid Ol-l substituted carbon atom is unsubstituted and also preferably the positions ortho to the oxime carbon atom on the other aromatic nucleus are unsubstituted. Branched chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon substituents are preferred. Compounds coming within the scope of the invention include the following:

2-H ydroxy-3 -methyl-S-ethylbenzophenoxime 2-Hydroxy-5 1 l -dimethylpropyl )-benzophenoxirne 2-Hydroxy-5-( l l -dimethylethyl)-benzophenoxime 2-Hydroxy-5-octylbenzophenoxime Z-Hydroxy-S-nonyl-benzophenoxime 2-Hydroxy-5 -dodecyl-benzophenoxirne 2-Hydroxy-2 ',4'-dimethyl- -octylbenzophenoxime 2-Hydroxy-2 ,3 ',5 '-trimethyl-5 -octylbenzophenoxime 2-l-lydroxy- 3 ,5 -dinonylben zophenoxime 2 -l-lydroxy-4'-( l, l -dimethylethyl )-5-( Z-pentyl )-benzophenoxime 2-Hydroxy-4 l ,1-dimethylethyl)-5-(2-butyl)-benzophenoxime 2-l-lydroxy-4 l l-dimethylethyl)-5-methylbenzophenoxime 2-Hydroxy-4 ,5 bis( 1 l-dimethylethyl )-benzophenox- As indicated from the above representative compounds, various alkyl groups can be used as R and R. And as set forth above, such groups may be branched or straight chain. Various ethylenically unsaturated groups can also be used as R and R and the same may be branched or straight chain. Representative of such groups are pentenyl, hexenyl, octenyl, decenyl, dodecenyl, octadecenyl and the like. It is preferred that such groups contain less than about 2 double bonds and more preferably a single double bond. Additionally the R and R groups may contain inert substituents such as halogen, ester, amide, and the like. Likewise, the aromatic nuclei can contain inert substituents. By inert is meant that the said substituents do not affect the solubility, stability or extraction efficiency of the compounds to any significant extent.

The compounds of the present invention may be made by any of a variety of classical synthesis routes. These routes involve the formation of the benzophenone from known starting materials followed by the 5 conversion of the benzophenone to the benzophenoxime. Two suitable methods of making the benzophenone include the following: One such method is that reported by Newman (J. Org. Chem, 19, 985-1002 (1954). This method involves the reaction of a phenol with a benzotrichloride in accordance with the following equation:

on cc] on BI 1.A1C13 a A second method involves the rearrangement where a phenolic ester is rearranged to a benzophenone in accordance with the following equation:

phenols which may be used in these methods include the following:

sec-butylphenol tert-butylphenol 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol octylphenol nonylphenol 2,4-dinonylphenol dodecylphenol amylphenol Representative of other starting phenols are those having the following groups in the para position:

and the like where R' and R"" are alkyl groups of 1 to about 8 carbons for example. Of the two methods described above for the preparation of the benzophenones, the first is preferred as the second involves some side reactions which reduce yields.

A third method of producing compounds of this type is illustrated in the following sequence:

OH OH co; now a The benzophenoxime compounds of the present invention are prepared from the described benzophenones by reaction of the latter with a hydroxylamine salt under reflux conditions. Such reaction can be carried out by refluxing the reactants in an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol and adding pyridine or sodium acetate to combine with the acid associated with the hydroxylamine.

The particular method which may be employed to produce the extractant may depend upon the particular compounds available as starting materials and the efficacy of the particular method as applied to such starting materials. However, all of the compounds covered by the present invention may be produced by one or more of these methods in combination with classical synthesis methods which may be used for the preparation of starting materials for the final reactions.

As indicated above, the compounds of the present invention are useful for the extraction of copper and other metals from aqueous solutions. In this recovery process, the benzophenoxime dissolved in a solvent is contacted with the aqueous metal solution to form a complex of the metal and the benzophenoxime, which is soluble in the organic solvent. The organic phase is then separated from the aqueous phase and the metal stripped from the organic phase, usually by means of an acid.

The water immiscible solvents usually employed for this purpose are the aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents such as the petroleum-derived liquid hydrocarbons, either straight chain or branched, such as kerosene, fuel oil, etc. Various aromatic solvents may also be used, such as benzene, toluene, xylene and other aromatic solvents, for example, those derived from petroleum processing which may contain alkyl substituted aromatic materials. Typical of the latter solvents are those sold under the Panasol trademark by Amoco Chemicals Corporation, both in the Rx" and the AN series. These solvents are liquid and essentially insoluble in water. Generally, all these hydrocarbon solvents have specific gravities in the range of 0.65-0.95 and have a mid-boiling point in the approximate range of l206l5F. (ASTM Distillation). In addition to the simple hydrocarbon solvents, the chlorinated hydrocarbons may also be used and in some instances may improve solubility. Accordingly, both the unsubstituted and the chlorinated solvents are contemplated by the term liquid hydrocarbon.

The benzophenoximes of the present invention are further characterized as having sufficient solubility in one or more of the above solvents or mixtures thereof to make about a 2% solution and which are essentially insoluble or immiscible with water. At the same time, the benzophenoxime should form a complex with the metal, such as copper, which complex, likewise, is soluble in the organic solvent to at least the extent of about 2% by weight. These characteristics are achieved by having alkyl or ethylenically unsaturated substituents on either ring. it is necessary to have substituents which total at least 3 carbon atoms. This minimum may be obtained by means of a total of 3 methyl groups distributed on either one or on the two rings, by means of a methyl and an ethyl group, by means of a propyl group, etc. Usually it is preferred not to have more than 25 carbon atoms total in the substituents since these substituents contribute to the molecular weight of the oxime without improving operability. Large substituents, therefore, increase the amount of oxime for a given copper loading capacity. In general, the branched chain alkyl substituents effect a greater degree of solubility of the reagent and of the copper complex and, accordingly, these are preferred.

The following examples will illustrate the preparation of typical benzophenoximes of the present invention and also the process of eflecting the extraction using such compounds. it is to be understood, however, that these examples are illustrative only and not as limiting the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts are by weight.

EXAMPLE I 1. Preparation of Z-Hydroxy-5-nonylbenzophenoxime Seven hundred fifty parts ethylene dichloride and 103 parts powdered aluminium chloride were charged to a glass-lined reactor equipped with an 1-1C1 scrubbing system. After cooling the above materials to 37C., a mixture of 178 parts nonylphenol (available from .lefferson Chemical Company Inc. the nonylphenol comprises a mixture of monoalkyl phenols, predominantly para substituted, with the chains being randombranched alkyl radicals) and 108 parts ethylene dichloride was pumped into the same over a period of 23 minutes. The pump and lines were rinsed with 20 parts ethylene dichloride at which point the reaction mixture had a temperature of 3SC. After minutes, 140 parts benzotrichloride were pumped into the reaction mixture over a 10 minute period and the pump and lines were again rinsed with 20 parts ethylene dichloride. The reaction mixture temperature was then 23C. After allowing the materials to react for minutes, 120 parts of methanol were pumped into the same over a minute period. The temperature rose to 9C. at which time 200 parts water were added. The reactor was then opened and an additional 560 parts (approximately) of water were added at which point the reaction mixture had a temperature of 24C. The water layer was siphoned off the top and approximately 920 parts more water was added as a second wash. After about l hour, the water layer was again siphoned off. At this point, 280 parts more water and 30 parts sodium hydroxide flakes were added to the reaction mixture. The resulting admixture was heated with steam to distill off the ethylene dichloride (a pot temperature of 101C. was reached over a period of about 5 hours). Distillation was stopped, cooling was applied to the reactor and when the temperature reached 63C., 300 parts n-hexane were added. After the addition of the n-hexane, the temperature was 38C. The mixture was allowed to separate for 50 minutes and then the water layer was drained out of the bottom. Two hundred eighty parts water and 6 parts sodium hydroxide flakes were added to the hexane solution with agitation for one minute at 38C. The admixture was allowed to settle for 35 minutes and the water layer was again drained out of the bottom. The remaining organic layer was steam distilled to remove the hexane (after 2 3 4 hours, the temperature was about 100C. and most of the hexane had distilled off). Vacuum was applied and the temperature was increased to 175C. over a 4 hour period to yield 220 parts of product. Two hundred eighteen parts of this product were charged to a still equipped with a large capacity vacuum pump. The product was heated slowly under vacuum for 5 a hours until 20 parts (approximately 10%) were obtained as a forecut (conditions were pot temperature 213C., overhead temperature 205C., 2.3 mm. Hg. vacuum). Distillation was continued for 4 more hours until 151 parts distillate were collected (conditions were pot temperature 236C., overhead temperature 210C, 1.4 mm. Hg. vacuum). Distillation was stopped at this point leaving 36 parts residue. Analysis of the main distillation cut showed that it consisted of 96% of the desired 2-hydroxy-5-nonylbenzophenone, 1.5% nonylphenol and trace amounts of other materials.

One thousand grams (3.08 mol of the above-prepared Z-hydroxy-S-nonylbenzophenone, 320 grams (4.61 mol) hydroxylamine hydrochloride, 416 grams (5.07 mol) sodium acetate and 400 grams absolute methanol were combined in a 5 1. round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer. thermometer and reflux condenser. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux which was continued for 31 hours. The resulting reac- 6 tion mixture was poured into water, extracted with ether and the ether solution was washed with water until neutral. The ether solution was then washed with a saturated aqueous NaCl solution, dried over Na SO and stripped of ether at (1C. (10 mm. Hg.) to yield 995.3 grams of 2-hydroxy -5-nonylbenzophenoxime.

2. Extraction of a Copper Solution with 2-Hydroxy-5-nonylbenzophenoxime Ten milliliters of a 10% wt./vol. solution of the oxime in kerosene (10 grams oxime diluted to ml. with kerosene) were placed in a 60 ml. separatory funnel. Twenty milliliters of an aqueous solution containing 4 gm./1. Cu" and having a pH of l.90 (prepared by diluting 15.7 gm. CuSO .5H O to one liter with water and adjusting the pH with cone. H 80 were then added. The separatory funnel was shaken for 2 minutes at ambient room temperature and the aqueous phase was separated from the organic phase. The above procedure was repeated three more times adding fresh 20 m1. portions of the copper solution each time. The pH of the last aqueous phase separated from the organic phase was 1.89 indicating that the organic phase was substantially loaded with copper. The organic phase analyzed 4310 ppm Cu.

EXAMPLE ll 1. Preparation of 2-Hydroxy-4'-( l, l-dimethylethyl)-5-( 2-pentyl)-benzophenoxime 468.1 grams (2.38 mol) of p-t-butyl benzoyl chloride, 390.7 grams (2.38 mol) of p-s-arnyl phenol were combined in a 2 liter flask and heated to 200C. for 1 /1 hours. The product was cooled and was taken up in diethyl ether and washed once with water, twice with dilute NaOH and then three times with water and finally dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the ether under vacuum gave 768 grams of a light-colored residue. The residue was then distilled to give 674 .3 grams of a water-white liquid collected at 209 to 220C. at 50 microns pressure.

324.4 grams of the above material (1 mol), grams of aluminum chloride 1.05 mol) and 400 ml. of phenyl chloride were added to a 2 liter flask equipped with a thermometer, stirrer and reflux condenser. The temperature immediately rose to 60C. and heating was started. The mixture was refluxed for of an hour and then poured over ice. This aqueous slurry was then heated to decompose the complex. The product was then extracted with Skellysolve B and washed twice with dilute hydrochloric acid and five times with water. The solvent was stripped off under vacuum to leave a residue which was saponified by adding 132 grams KOH dissolved in ml. of water, 700 ml. of isopropanel, 300 ml. of methanol, under reflux for 24 hours. The product was then poured into 12 liters of water and extracted with Skellysolve B. The product was washed three times with dilute NaOH-NaCl. four times with water, two times with dilute HCl and five times with water and then dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was then distilled off and the residue vacuum distilled to yield 82.5 grams of product collected at 183 to 193 at 80 microns. This benzophenone was then converted to the oxime as previously described except that an excess of pyridine was used instead of sodium acetate.

2. Extraction of Copper The liquid ion exchange circuit consisted of three stages for extraction and four stages for stripping. Provisions were made to add a base (0.25 N Nh solution) to the first and second stage mixes for pH control. The Pl-ls for the first aqueous stage, the second aqueous stage and the third aqueous stage (raffinate) were measured and recorded. Stripping was accomplished in four stages, using sulfuric acid solutions. The initial acid concentration was 301 grams H 80 per liter and the pregnant solution from stripping was reused as the stripping solution. The extractant was composed of a 5% by volume solution of the extractant in kerosene. Aqueous feed solutions were made up by dissolving copper sulfate and sodium sulfate in water and adjusting the pH to 2. l :2.2 sulfuric acid. The iron in the solu tion was dissolved ferric sulfate. Thecircuit was operated with the aqueous solution in the continuous phase to minimize short circuiting.

The extraction was conducted in the three stages with different feed rates and the results are indicated in the following table:

3 Stage Extraction. 4 Stage Stripping.

Ambient Temperature C.

Extraction Hours of operation 7 Aqueous Feed. ccjmin. 42

g. Cull. 0.98

g. Fell. 1.08

pH 2.18 Aqueous pH. 1st stage 202-2 10 2nd stage 2.05-2.21

Rafi'inate 1 .98-2 06 Raffinate, g. Cull. 0.08

g. Fell. 1.04 Organic. cc./rnin. 27.2

g. Cull. 0.1

g. Fell. nil Cu Extraction. it: 91.8 Fe Extraction. 3.7 Stripping Loaded Organic. g. Cull. 1.60

g. Fell. 0.05 Strip Solution, cc.lmin. 6.7

g. Cull. 12.4

g. Fell. nil

g. H,SO./l. 287 Preg. Solution g. Cull. 18.1

g. Fell. 0.14

These results show that good copper extraction is obtained at all of these levels of feed. Iron extraction into the organic phase is very low and high concentrations of copper in the stripping solution can be obtained as is evident by the final result which showed 34.] grams of copper per liter. This shows that stripping can be accomplished with a copper-saturated acid solution, thus giving copper sulfate crystals as the final product. It is thus possible to produce a solution suitable for electroplating of copper. In the final 14-hour operation, the iron extraction based on assays of the feed and raffinate was zero. The slight amount of iron shown in the loaded organic may be due to aqueous entrainment. Minor amounts of copper are shown in the raffinate but when the raftinate was contacted within an additional stage of extraction, it was found that a very high percentage of the remaining copper could be extracted. Thus, in a four-state extraction, copper recoveries of the order of 95% or better are obtainable.

EXAMPLE 111 1. Preparation of 2-Hydroxy-2 ',4',5 -trimethyl-5-octylbenzophenoxime 266.7 grams of aluminum chloride (2 mol) and 600 ml. of carbon tetrachloride were added to a 1 liter flask equipped with a stirrer, addition funnel and a temperature controller. 120.2 grams (1 mole) of pseudocumene dissolved in 200 ml. of carbon tetrachloride was then added to the flask at 37 to 42C. over a 1 hour period. Reaction was continued for an additional 2 hours at this temperature. The product was cautiously added to water and the temperature kept in the range of to by the addition of ice. Stirring was continued an additional 5 minutes and it was cooled to 30 by the addition of more ice. The product was then extracted with diethyl ether-Skellysolve B and was washed with water until neutral. It was then dried over calcium chloride overnight. The product was filtered and the filtrate was stripped of solvent to give 208.2 gm of a crude 2,4,5-trimethyl benzotrichloride having a chlorine content of 36%.

86.6 grams (0.65 mol) of aluminum chloride and 100 0.15 0.18 nil nil 89.0 85.3 3.0 0

ml. of carbon disulfide were added to a 1 liter flask equipped with a stirrer, addition funnel and a thermom- 50 eter. The mixture was cooled to 0 to 5C. and 103.2 grams (0.5 mol) of octyl phenol was added (the octyl phenol comprised a mixture of phenols substituted in the para position with branched chain 8 carbon atom alkyl radicals about of such radicals having the 55 structure I CH,-C-CH,

ILCH Cl-h--CH,

156.2 grams of crude 2,4,5-trimethyl benzotrichloride 65 (0.5 mol assuming 76% purity) and ml. of carbon disulfide were then added over a 15 minute period at 0C. and this temperature maintained an additional 3 hours. 200 ml. of absolute methanol was then added at 9 C. followed by 250 ml. of water. This mixture was then poured into 1 liter of water and heated to 47 and was then allowed to cool over night. The product was then extracted with diethyl ether and Skellysolve B and washed with water until neutral. It was then dried over sodium sulfate. The sodium sulfate was filtered off and the solvent distilled off. The residue was distilled to yield a fraction containing 83.3 grams of 2-hydroxy-2',- 4',5'trimethyI-S-octylbenzophenone. This product was converted to the corresponding oxime by a standard method.

2. Extraction of Copper The above oxime was then used for extracting copper from 0.049 molar copper sulfate solution. The oxime was used in the form of a solution composed of 5 grams of the oxime diluted to 100 ml. with kerosene. ml. of the 0.049 molar copper sulfate solution was diluted with 10 ml. of 0.05 molar sodium bisulfate. A series of extractions were conducted in separatory funnels using 10 ml. of the extractant solution. The separatory funnels were shaken for the time periods indicated in the following table and the aqueous phase was then separated from the organic phase. The results are indicated EXAMPLE V 1. Preparation of 2Hydroxy-5dodecylbenzophenoxime 2-l-lydroxy-5dodecylbenzophenoxime was prepared by the following method: 346.7 grams (2.6 mol) of aluminum chloride and 1900 ml. of carbon disulfide were added to a 5 liter round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer, thermometer and addition funnel. The mixture was cooled to 0C. 524.8 grams (2 mol) of dodecylphenol (available from General Analine and Fi1mthe dodecylphenol comprised a mixture of monoalkyl phenols, predominantly para substituted, with the chains being random-branched alkyl radicals) was mixed with 100 ml. of carbon disulfide and then added at 0 to the flask. The flask was cooled to to 391 grams (2 mol) of benzotrichloride was then added at tempe ratures of l5 to 20 over a period of 13 minutes. The flask was warmed 0 to 5 and held for 1 hour. One liter of methanol was added at 0 to 5 followed by 500 ml. of water at the same temperatures. The mixture was heated and at C. steam was passed through and continued to heat until a temperature of 100C. was reached. The mixture was then cooled and poured into table 25 dilute hydrochloride acid and extracted with diethyl ether and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was Time H 131: stripped off and the residue was stripped and a fraction p g of 288.7 grams of 2hydroxy S-dodecylbenzophenone A l 218 was recovered. This benzophenone was converted to B 2. 9 C {338 the oxlme by a standard method. D 120 min. 2.19 1935 2. Extraction of Copper The above benzophenoxime was used in the extrac- EXAMPLE [V tion of copper in the following manner: An aqueous I I copper solution which was 0.0175 molar as to copper y y' ,4 y Y P Pl was extracted with a solution containing 5 grams of the was P p y the method described In Example above benzophenoxime in 100 ml. of solution in an i Stamng q y pl was the Same as e alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. The p e Thls OXIfTIe was used for extraction 40 extraction was conducted in a separatory funnel with F PP followmg manner: 5 grams of the an aqueous to organic ratio of 2 for time periods of l, oxlme were m with kerosene to The 2, 5 and 10 minutes. The results are indicated in the folcopper solution was composed of a mixture of l i m equal volumes of 0.1 molar copper sulfate and 1.0 molar sodium sulfate. The mixed solution con- Time ppm tained 3,180 ppm copper. The extractions were Min. pH Cu ORG conducted in separatory funnels by mixing the 1 l 74 )4 aqueous and organic solutions and shaking them in 2 1:72 236 a separatory funnel for the indicated time periods. g The pH was adjusted by the addition of the indicated quantities of bicarbonate or bisulfate. The results are indicated in the following table:

EXAMPLE VI 2-Hydroxy-3,5-dinonyl benzophenoxome was prepared by the method described in Example V using 3,5- dimonylphenol (the nonyl groups were randomm C ml ml ml ml pp in u Organic Cu SOL .IM HCO, .IMHSO Min. pH Organic A 20 10 s 1 5.44 990 B 20 10 s s 3.50 1160 c 20 10 s 10 3.12 1280 D 20 l0 s 120 2.25 1030 E 20 10 s I 5.00 75 F 20 10 5 s 2.50 220 o 20 10 5 10 2.48 595 H 20 10 s 2.33 1400 ml ml ml 0. lM ml Time M Cu Organic Cu SOL HSO, H,O Min. pH Aqueous A l l0 5 I 2.01 0.0l6 8 l0 l0 5 5 2 2.04 0.0l5 C l0 l0 5 5 5 2.00 0.013 D l0 l0 5 5 [O l .99 0.0l l

A further important aspect of the present invention is the discovery that the combination of the benzophenoxines previously described with certain 0:- hydroxy aliphatic oximes results in a phenomenal improvement in the kinetics of the copper extraction. The extraction of copper values from aqueous solutions using these a-hydroxy aliphatic oximes alone is preferably conducted by high pl-ls above 7 because of improved yields and better selectivity with respect to iron at these pH s as compared with low pHs. The 2- hydroxy benzophenoximes of the present invention, however, are very effective at low pHs but the kinetics of the extraction at these low pHs with the 2-hydroxy benzophenoximes is not as good as it is with the ahydroxy aliphatic oximes.

Surprisingly, however, it has been found that when the a-hydroxy aliphatic oximes are employed in combination with the 2-hydroxy benzophenoximes at low equilibrium pHs, for example, in the range of 1.4-2.3 pl-ls, the kinetics of the extraction are very materially improved without any serious effect on the selectivity of the extraction with respect to iron. The combination of the two reagents provides important advantages as to:

l. Preferential extraction of the copper.

2. Extraction of the copper from the aqueous solution at low pH values (copper solutions normally exist at low pHs).

3. Improved rate of copper extraction with respect to time,

4. Improved recovery from the organic phase, and

5. Greater economy.

The a-hydroxy aliphatic oxime extractants which may be used for this purpose have the folowing general formula:

H NOH where R R and R may be any of a variety of organic radicals such as aliphatic and alkylaryl radicals. R may also be hydrogen. Preferably, R and R are unsaturated hydrocarbon or branched chain alkyl groups containing from about 6 to carbon atoms. R and R are also preferably the same and when alkyl are preferably attached to the carbons substituted with the OH and 12 =NOl-l groups through a secondary carbon atom. It is also preferred that R is hydrogen or unsaturated hydrocarbon or branched chain alkyl groups containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms. The a-hydroxy oximes also preferably contain a total of about 14 to 40 carbon atoms. Representative compounds are 19- hydroxyhexatriaconta-9 ,27-dienl S-oxime, 5,10-diethyl-8hydroxytetradecan-7-oxime, and 5,8-diethyl-7- hydroxydodecane-fi-oxime. The latter compound has the following structural formula:

H2 OH IOH lit CH:,(CHz)3C \C-tf-(CH CH,

Representative of other monoand polyunsaturated radicals are heptenyl, octenyl, decenyl, octadecenyl, octadecynyl and alkyl substituted radicals such as ethyloctadecenyl. Representative of other monoand polyalkyl substituted saturated radicals are ethylhexyl, diethylheptyl, butyldecyl, butylhexadecyl, ethylbutyldodecyl, butylcyclohexyl and the like. The R, R and R groups may contain inert substituents.

The a-hydroxy oxime extractants are also characterized as having a solubility of at least about 2% by weight in the hydrocarbon solvent used to make up the organic phase and substantially complete insolubility in water. In addition, it is believed that the copper values and the a-hydroxy oxime extractant form a complex during the initial extraction step and such complex, when formed, should also have a solubility of at least about 2% by weight in the hydrocarbon solvent.

The relative amounts of the two extractants can be varied widely as examples hereinafter will demonstrate. Even minute quantities of the a-hydroxy aliphatic oxime are beneficial. However, it is preferred to employ it in the range of l to l00% by weight based on the weight of the 2-hydroxy benzophenoxime, with best results obtainable in the range of 15-50%. The amount of the extractants in the organic solvent likewise can vary within considerable limits. in general, however, the concentration of total oxime is in the range 2-25%, based on the weight of the organic extracting solution, preferably in the range of 5-15%.

EXAMPLE VI] Table 1 (A) ml tCu) ml (B) org Time Org aq. M Aq. A/O pH ppm min. 5 l0 ().Ul 2O 2 5 1.69 725 l Table lcontinued Table 3-continued (Cu) (Cu) (A) ml (Cu**) ml (B) org Time (A! ml. [Cu*"] ml. (Bl org T1me Org. aq. M Aq. A10 pH ppm min. 7% Org. aq. M Aq. A/O 76 pH ppm Min.

Note: 5 10 0.0175 20 2 2.5 1.67 780 1 A y y S-dOdeCYIbW-DPhW-Xime 5 l 0.0175 20 2 2,5 L66 815 2 B 5,8-diethyl-7-hydroxy dodecane-fi-oxime 10 0.0175 20 2 2.5 1.67 360 5 10 5 10 0.0175 20 2 2.5 L66 B57 10 5 10 0.0175 20 2 1.0 1.72 555 1 Table 4 5 10 0.0175 20 2 1.0 1.71 730 2 (Cu) 5 10 0.0175 20 2 1.0 L69 B95 5 5 10 0.0175 20 2 1.0 L68 940 10 (A) (Cum (B) 15 Org aq. M Aq. A/O pH ppm Mm g {g 88:}; i8 5 8-; 2?; i 2.5 10 0.016 2 2.5 1.70 425 1.0 5 10 20 2 {70 855 5 2.5 10 0.016 20 2 1.0 1.71 415 1.0 5 10 0'01 20 2 "68 945 m 2.5 10 0.016 20 2 0.5 1.70 310 1.0 2.5 10 0.016 20 2 0.25 1.70 240 1.0

5 10 0.0175 20 2 None 1.74 104 1 5 10 0.0175 20 2 None 1.72 236 2 20 2 23 5 10 0.0175 20 2 None 1.71 355 5 2 05 485 5 10 0.0175 20 2 None 1.66 550 10 25 2 Note:

A= Z-hydroxy S-dodccylbenzophcnoxime l0 o-0l6 2O 2 215 450 10 B 5,8-diethyl-7-hydroxy dodecanc-6-oxirnc l0 l 6 20 2 I D 1 490 10 Table 2 New A 2 l1ydr0xy S-dodccylbenzophenoxime (C 1 B 5,8 diethyl-7-hydroxy d0decane-6-oxime (A) ml (Cu) ml (8) org Time Org. aq. M Aq. A/O 51 pH ppm Min These tables show that the combmatlon of the two ex- 5 10 0.016 20 2 2.5 1.77 645 0.5 4 5 10 0,016 20 2 m 1.78 615 05 tractants enhances the rate of extractlon. They l1kew1se g 10 0 016 0 2 L5 -79 565 05 show that good extraction can be achieved 1n 5 mmutes 10 0016 20 2 46G or less. They further show that considerable variations 5 10 0.016 20 2 2.5 1.78 765 1.0 in the concentrations of the reagents may be used as 5 10 0016 20 2 29 well as considerable variation in the relative ratios of 5 10 0.016 20 2 1.5 1.79 700 1.0 5 10 0.016 20 2 1.0 1.80 670 1.0 40 the g Wh1le the above descr1pt1on has been with particular 5 10 0.016 20 2 2.5 1.77 815 2.0 f l b d d 5 10 M16 20 2 20 L79 825 20 re erence to speci 1c examp es, 1t 1s to e un erstoo 5 10 0.016 20 2 1.5 1.75 1125 2.0 that the 1nvent1on 1s not restncted thereto but may be 5 10 [L016 20 2 varied within the scope of the appended claims. 5 10 0.016 20 2 2.5 1.75 850 5.0 therefore, I clfllmi 5 10 (1016 20 2 1. A compound having the formula: 5 10 0.016 20 2 1.5 1.80 855 5.0 5 10 0.016 20 2 1.0 1.80 880 5.0

Note:

A 2 hydroxy s dodecylbenzophenoxime OH NO B 5.8-diethyl-7-hydroxy dodecane-b-oxime I C Table 3 m (A) ml. (Cu*) ml. (8] org Time Or a .M A AIO H 111 Min 8 q q P pp in whlch R and R may be md1v1dually ahke or different :3 :8 23;: 23 g :22 3233 :3 and are saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups of 1-25 0 0 0:0 20 2 5 L 7 :0 carbon atoms, m and n are 0, l, 2, 3 0f 4 with [11 PTO- 10 20 2 I0 I469 I830 140 viso that both are not 0 and the total number of carbon [0 mm 20 2 10 L70 2080 20 atoms in R and R',, is from 3-25, said compound being 10 10 0.031 20 2 5 1.62 2170 20 further characterized as bemg substantlally msoluble 1n :8 g {2% 32g 58 Water, having a solubility of at least 2% by weight in benzene and forming a complex with copper which 0-031 20 2 10 complex is also soluble to the extent of at least 2% by 10 10 0.031 20 2 5 1.65 2260 5.0 65 h b 10 10 0.031 20 2 2.5 1.65 2380 5.0 t enzenfi- 10 10 0.031 20 2 1.0 1.65 2330 5.0 2. A compound according to clalm 1 1n whlch an R w 0m] 20 2 m 1 00 [0 group is in the 5 position, said R group containing at 10 10 0.031 20 2 5 1.65 2260 10 least nine carbon atoms.

3. A compound according to claim 2 in which the R group in the 5 position is a branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

4. A compound according to claim 1 in which both m and n are at least 1.

5. A compound according to claim 1 in which R is a branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group.

6. A compound according to claim 5 in which at least one R group is in the 5 position.

7. A compound according to claim 1 in which the position ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl carbon atom is unsubstituted, and in which the positions ortho to the oxime carbon of the non-phenolic ring are unsubstituted.

8. 2-Hydroxy-3'-methyl-5-ethyl-benzophenoxime.

9. Z-Hydroxy-S-dodecylbenzophenoxime.

10. 2-Hydroxy-3,5-dinonylbenzophenoxime.

1 1. 2-Hydroxy-4'-( l l -dimethylethyl)-5-( 2-pentyl)- benzophenoxime.

l2. 2-Hydroxy-S-nonylbenzophenoxime.

l3. 2-Hydroxy- 2 ',4' ,5 '-trimethyl-5-octylben zophenoxime.

l4. 2-Hydroxy-2',4'-dimethyl-5-nonylbenzophenoxime.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 g25 r 7 DATED 1 December 9 1975 |NVENTOR(S) 1 Ronald R. Swanson It is certified that error appears in the ab0veidentifred patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: Col. 1, lines 28 and 29, "phenolid" should read --phenolic--. Col. 2, line 66 of the formula, CH

"CH3 c CH2 c CH3 CH CH Cl should read CH -CH3 c CH2 c CH3--.

CH cH c1 Col. 6 line 5 0P0. should read 60 C, Col 7 line 7, "PH's" should read --pH's---; line 38 of the table, "0.1" should read -O.l5-; line 41 of the table, "3.0" should read --l.D--; line 67, four-state" should read --four stage Col. 10, line 28, "2hydroxy" should read -2hydroxy-; line 54, "dimonylphenol" should read -dinonylphenol. Col.

12, line 17 of the formula, CH

t t H t "ori -(CH -e--c-c--c-(cH cH CH should read Signed and Sealed this A Nest.

RUTH C. MASON Alrt'Sling ()H'u- MARSHALL DANN mnnmsnmcr 1)] Parents and Trademarks 

1. A COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA:
 2. A compound according to claim 1 in which an R group is in the 5 position, said R group containing at least nine carbon atoms.
 3. A compound according to claim 2 in which the R group in the 5 position is a branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group.
 4. A compound according to claim 1 in which both m and n are at least
 1. 5. A compound according to claim 1 in which R is a branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon group.
 6. A compound according to claim 5 in which at least one R group is in the 5 position.
 7. A compound according to claim 1 in which the position ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl carbon atom is unsubstituted, and in which the positions ortho to the oxime carbon of the non-phenolic ring are unsubstituted.
 8. 2-Hydroxy-3''-methyl-5-ethyl-benzophenoxime.
 9. 2-Hydroxy-5-dodecylbenzophenoxime.
 10. 2-Hydroxy-3,5-dinonylbenzophenoxime.
 11. 2-Hydroxy-4''-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-5-(2-pentyl)-benzophenoxime.
 12. 2-Hydroxy-5-nonylbenzophenoxime.
 13. 2-Hydroxy-2'',4'',5''-trimethyl-5-octylbenzophenoxime.
 14. 2-Hydroxy-2'',4''-dimethyl-5-nonylbenzophenoxime. 